Sports

By KRISTIE RIEKEN AP Sports Writer HOUSTON (AP) — DeMeco Ryans was a highly sought-after candidate for head coaching jobs in this coaching cycle and had plenty of suitors other than the Houston Texans. No team really had a chance to land him with the Texans as an option. “When it came down to it,

The Associated Press COLLEGE STATION, Texas (AP) — Star receiver Ainias Smith will return to Texas A&M for another season. Smith announced on Twitter that he’ll return for a fifth season after breaking his right leg in Texas A&M’s fourth game last season.

RAS AL KHAIMAH, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Ryo Hisatsune’s fast start with birdies on his first six holes helped the Japanese golfer take a two-shot lead after the first round of the Ras Al Khaimah Championship. The 20-year-old Hisatsune picked up further shots on the eighth and 10th holes but then couldn’t make another

NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. — Jordan Minor had 25 points and 13 rebounds to lead Merrimack to a 76-59 victory over Long Island University. Minor added seven assists, and four blocks for the Warriors (8-16, 6-4 Northeast Conference). Ziggy Reid pitched in with 19 points, shooting 7 of 11 from the floor with three 3-pointers, five

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James was set to resume his NBA scoring-record chase Thursday night at Indiana after being cleared to start. James entered the day 89 points away from breaking Kareem Abdul Jabbar’s mark of 38,387. James, a 19-time All-Star, had been listed as questionable because of a sore left

By TALES AZZONI AP Sports Writer Vinícius Júnior had more than his goal to celebrate in Real Madrid’s 2-0 win over Valencia in the Spanish league. Vinícius also was glad to escape serious injury after a vicious foul by Gabriel Paulista in the second half. The foul ignited a brawl and earned the Valencia defender

By ROD McGUIRK Associated Press CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Tennis star Nick Kyrgios is due to appear in an Australian court to apply to have an assault charge stemming from events two years ago dismissed on mental health grounds. His lawyer Michael Kukulies-Smith appeared in a court in Kyrgios’ hometown of Canberra in October and

TURIN, Italy (AP) — The Italian Cup is giving Juventus a respite from its Serie A troubles. Bremer’s first-half goal was enough to put Juventus into the semifinals of the competition with a 1-0 win over Lazio. That sets up a meeting with Inter Milan in a rematch of last year’s final. Juventus was deducted

By DAN GELSTON AP Sports Writer PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts is ready for a big matchup in the Super Bowl. The Eagles can win their second Super Bowl in franchise history with a win over the Kansas City Chiefs. Hurts and Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes are both Texas natives. They are

By TIM REYNOLDS AP Sports Writer FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — There have been 296 players listed as defensemen who have appeared in the NHL so far this season. Only six are All-Stars. Such is the reality for those who play hockey’s most thankless position, one where a player is rarely called upon to score

NEW YORK — Led by Tedrick Wilcox Jr.’s 15 points, the St. Francis Brooklyn Terriers defeated the Central Connecticut State Blue Devils 53-48 on Thursday. The Terriers are now 12-11 on the season, while the Blue Devils dropped to 6-18.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Los Angeles FC signed Spanish defender Sergi Palencia to a two-year contract through the 2024 season. The 26-year-old Palencia is joining the defending Major League Soccer champions from Saint-Étienne in France’s Ligue 2. His deal with LAFC includes a contract option for 2025. LAFC has undergone significant turnover since winning the

By GRAHAM DUNBAR AP Sports Writer GENEVA (AP) — The International Olympic Committee has stepped up efforts to explain its position on trying to help Russian athletes qualify for the Paris Games. It comes amid a backlash from Ukraine and its allies. The Olympic body last week mapped a pathway to Paris for athletes from

KING ABDULLAH ECONOMIC CITY, Saudi Arabia (AP) — Abraham Ancer has a one-shot lead over Sebastian Munoz after his 63 in the first round of the Saudi International. Dustin Johnson withdrew before the start with an injury the Asian Tour described as “tweaking his back.” The $5 million tournament has several players who have signed

By DOUG FEINBERG AP Basketball Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Courtney Vandersloot became the latest star to join the New York Liberty. Vandersloot had played her entire 12-year career with the Chicago Sky. She announced Thursday on social media that she would play with the Liberty this season, a day after Breanna Stewart said she’d

By DAVE SKRETTA AP Sports Writer KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Patrick Mahomes strolled through Arrowhead Stadium without any issues with his injured right ankle on Thursday, and the Kansas City Chiefs quarterback expects to practice fully in the next 10 days leading up to the Super Bowl. The injury news was not quite as

By FRED GOODALL AP Sports Writer TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Tom Brady’s future figures to be busy. The seven-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback’s retirement announcement ended speculation about if and where Brady might want to play next season, opening the door for numerous off-the-field endeavors that could occupy his time. The 45-year-old future Hall of Famer,